Gayton McKenzie faces fresh grilling over R31m FIFA World Cup delegation TODAY
· The South African
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie is set to face the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon as questions over the department’s R30.9 million FIFA World Cup 2026 expenditure return to the spotlight.
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McKenzie and his department are scheduled to appear before the committee at 17:30 for a second time to account for the 151-person delegation that travelled to Mexico and the United States during the tournament.
The minister previously appeared before the committee on 4 August, but Members expressed dissatisfaction with the department’s presentation and demanded a more detailed account of the expenditure.
Gayton McKenzie subsequently left the meeting before members could question him on the World Cup spending.
The Democratic Alliance is now demanding that the department provide the detailed information it says was promised to Parliament.
DA spokesperson on Sport, Arts and Culture, Leah Potgieter MP, is expected to press the minister for answers on the composition, activities and cost of the delegation.
DA demands full delegation breakdown
Among the information being sought is the full names, qualifications and experience of all 151 delegation members, as well as the specific role and responsibilities of each person.
The DA also wants a detailed account of what each delegate did during the World Cup and a breakdown of meetings and engagements involving the minister and delegation members.
Another key demand is a detailed breakdown of the estimated R30.9 million expenditure, including the costs attributable to individual delegation members.
The party is also seeking details of all sponsorships received and a measurable assessment of the return on investment from the World Cup programme.
This includes the benefits allegedly secured for South African sport, arts, culture, tourism and related industries.
How the R30.9 million was spent
Gayton McKenzie has previously defended the expenditure, saying the money was not spent solely on the minister or a single delegation.
According to the department’s breakdown, total expenditure came to R30 945 370.15.
The biggest allocation was R10 million for programme activities, including fan engagement, Aldea Global participation, Atlanta partnership activations, Monterrey activities and legacy programmes.
A further R7.86 million was spent on official trips and travel-related expenditure involving the minister, two support staff, the Director-General and a 14-member project team.
The department allocated R6.71 million to the South Africa 2010 Legends Exhibition Match, while R3.36 million went towards suites and R3.01 million towards spectator match tickets.
McKenzie has argued that the programme was part of the department’s mandate to use sport, arts and culture to promote South Africa internationally.
He has also rejected suggestions that the entire R31 million was spent on him personally.
The minister previously said his own documented travel costs amounted to approximately R1.06 million over the five-week period.
151 people travelled, but not all were state-funded
The department says the 151 participants included 18 officials, 30 artists and cultural participants, 27 members of the 2010 Bafana Bafana legends squad and 76 people whose participation was funded by sponsors.
The sponsored group consisted of 47 fans and 29 journalists, influencers and podcasters.
The department has said the final reconciliation of private sponsorship contributions was still being completed, meaning the exact final state-funded amount may differ from the initial programme estimate.
Gayton McKenzie has maintained that the programme was implemented through approved departmental processes and remained subject to the Public Finance Management Act, Treasury regulations and National Treasury’s cost-containment measures.
Pressure for receipts and proof of value
The latest parliamentary appearance comes amid growing pressure on the department to provide documentary evidence supporting the expenditure.
The DA says it wants the minister to account for every rand spent and demonstrate what tangible benefits the country received in return.
The department, meanwhile, has said it is preparing a consolidated close-out report covering invoices, travel claims, sponsorship contributions and implementing-partner accounts.
Tuesday’s meeting could therefore provide Parliament with its most detailed opportunity yet to scrutinise the controversial World Cup expenditure and establish exactly who travelled, who paid for the trip and what South Africa gained from the programme.